Photo by Rachel Sansano | 375th Air Mobility Wing | 04.25.2025
U.S. Air Force Thunderbird No. 5, flown by Maj. Jeffrey “Simmer” Downie, takes off from Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, April 25, 2025. The Thunderbirds are an aerial demonstration team that showcase the capabilities of the Air Force’s premier multi-role fighter jet, the F-16 Fighting Falcon. (U.S. Air Force photo by Rachel Sansano)...
Photo by Rachel Sansano | 375th Air Mobility Wing | 04.25.2025
U.S. Air Force Maj. Joshua “Shadow” Burress, pilot of the No. 2 Thunderbird, watches his teammates taxi to the flight line as they prepare to take off from Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, April 25, 2025. The only modifications needed to prepare the aircraft for its air demonstration role include installing a smoke-generating system in the space normally reserved for the 20mm cannon and......
Photo by Rachel Sansano | 375th Air Mobility Wing | 04.25.2025
U.S. Air Force Thunderbird pilot No. 5, Maj. Jeffrey “Simmer” Downie, prepares to take off from Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, April 25, 2025. On May 25, 1953, just six years after the U.S. Air Force became its own branch of service, the Thunderbirds were born as the Air Force’s official air demonstration team. (U.S. Air Force photo by Rachel Sansano)...
Photo by Rachel Sansano | 375th Air Mobility Wing | 04.25.2025
Thunderbird pilot No. 2, Maj. Joshua “Shadow” Burress, works through his pre-flight checklist on his F-16 before taking off from Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, April 25, 2025. The Lockheed Martin F-16 represents the full range of capabilities possessed by the Air Force's tactical fighters. The only modifications needed to prepare the aircraft for its air demonstration role include......
Photo by Rachel Sansano | 375th Air Mobility Wing | 04.25.2025
U.S. Air Force Maj. Joshua “Shadow” Burress, pilot of the No. 2 Thunderbird jet, gets ready to take off from Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, April 25, 2025. The Thunderbirds are an aerial demonstration team that showcase the capabilities of the Air Force’s premier multi-role fighter jet, the F-16 Fighting Falcon. (U.S. Air Force photo by Rachel Sansano)...
Photo by Rachel Sansano | 375th Air Mobility Wing | 04.25.2025
The U.S. Air Force aerial demonstration pilots prepare their F-16 Fighting Falcons to take off from Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, April 25, 2025. The Thunderbirds' first aircraft was the straight-winged F-84G Thunderjet, a combat fighter-bomber that had seen action in Korea. (U.S. Air Force photo by Rachel Sansano)...
Photo by Rachel Sansano | 375th Air Mobility Wing | 04.25.2025
Lt. Col. Nathan Malafa, commander of the Thunderbirds squadron, smiles before taking off from Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, April 25, 2025. Malafa’s team of pilots perform approximately 30 maneuvers in a demonstration. The entire show, including ground and air, runs about an hour and fifteen minutes. The Thunderbirds’ season lasts from March to November, with the winter months used to......
Photo by Rachel Sansano | 375th Air Mobility Wing | 04.25.2025
Pilot of the No. 2 Thunderbird jet, U.S. Air Force Maj. Joshua “Shadow” Burress, checks his F-16 before taking off from Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, April 25, 2025. Burress was previously an A-10C pilot, who logged over 1,400 flight hours, including more than 100 combat hours. (U.S. Air Force photo by Rachel Sansano)...
